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Hassell's career night helps Georgia beat Detroit

Dec 23, 2009 - 4:23 AM ATHENS, Ga.(AP) -- Jasmine Hassell was jogging up and down the court for her high school basketball team last year when Georgia lost at Detroit.

The Titans considered that win so important that the cover of their media guide shows the scoreboard at the end of that game.

"I was not part of the team last year, but I was part of it tradition-wise," said Hassell, a freshman. "We were not going to let that happen again."

With Hassell contributing a career-high 14 points in 13 minutes, No. 9 Georgia overcame poor shooting in a 66-42 win over Detroit on Tuesday night.

Meredith Mitchell and Ashley Houts added 12 each for Georgia (11-0), which shot just 32 percent from the field. Hassell hit six of her nine field goal attempts, but the rest of the Bulldogs were 18-for-65 (28 percent). Georgia made only five of 28 3-point attempts.

"I just turned around and put the ball in the hole because the coach told me to put in the hole," Hassell said.

"We have been telling everybody who would listen that she is getting better and better every week," coach Andy Landers said. "Her strength is incredible. She can bang in between two cars and come out of it with a clean shot."

Brigid Mulroy scored 14 for Detroit (1-9), hitting three 3-pointers. Georgia outrebounded the Titans 45-35 and forced 25 turnovers that led to 19 points.

"We got great looks at the basket and didn't hit them," Landers said. "We had terrific looks with terrific shooters. We didn't have anybody really heat up. We missed 50 shots."

Trailing by two early on, Georgia used a 16-4 run to take a 20-10 lead with 9:27 remaining in the half. Detroit rallied behind Demeisha Fambro and trailed 29-25 at halftime.

Georgia ended any thoughts of a second straight upset with a 13-4 spurt to start the second half.

Landers said references to last year's loss at Detroit were less motivational than instructional.

"Georgia carries a lot of good baggage wherever we go," he said. "For some teams it is the biggest game on their schedule, and so it has to be the biggest win. So it matters not whether we are playing Detroit or UConn, it is a big game, which is why every time we walk out onto the court we have to bring our game."